Gas liquefying apparatus



July 27, 1937. c. w. RICE 4GAS LIQUEFYING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 5,

I' Patented -July .27', 1937 GAS LIQUEFYING APPARATUS Chester W. Rice, Schenectady, N. Y., assigner to General Electric Company, -a

New York corporation of Application -December 5, 1936, Serial No.-` 114,411

(Cl. 62-122) v 14 Claims.

My invention relates to gas liquefying apparatus Iand particularly to such apparatus of the regenerative type.

In gas liquefying apparatus of the regenera` tive type the gas' is first compressed to a high pressure and is cooled by water or ice and is also dried and purified to remove moisture and other foreign matter. then passed through an extended coil of tubing arranged within a thermally insulated casing Vand is discharged through a throttle 'valve into a liquefying chamber within the casing. The gas discharged through the throttle valve is slightly cooled by the Joule-Thomson effect and the cooled gas is removed from the liquefying chamber through a tube arranged in heat exchange relation with the coiled high pressure inlet conduit, or it'is circulated over the turns of theinletconduit and is returned to the compressor. The cooled gas removed from the The compressed gas is tion will becom'e apparent as the following, de-

scription proceeds, and the features of novelty which characterize my invention will 'be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed toy and forming a part of this specicationf For a better understanding of my invention reference may be had tothe accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a. sectionalview of a. gas liquefying apparatus embodying my invention, the compressor, purifier andpre-coolers being shown diagrammatically; Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view of the throttle valve and sound producing device 'of Fig. 1, showing the adjusting or control mechanism; and Fig. `3 is an enlarged sectional view of 'the throttle valve and sound producing device. l

Referring now to the drawing in Fig, 1, I have shown a gas liquefying apparatus of the regenerative type including a thermally insulated liquefying chamber reducesthe temperature ,of

casing I0 containing a gas liquefying chamber II formed with metal walls IIa, regenerative heat exchange conduits I2 and a throttle valve arranged in a havy metal block I3,^a compressor I4, compressed gas coolers I5 and I6 .and a purier .11. During the operation of the the chamber. Additional gas" to make up for the N liquefied gas enters the apparatus on the intake side of the compressor, a make-up compressor being provided in some cases to pump in the additional gas when required.

T he rate of liquefaction of gas in regenerative liquefying apparatus depends upon the rate at which the heat energy may be vremoved from the gas passing into the. liquefying chamber.

It is, therefore, desirable to remove as much energy as possible from the gas as it enters the chamber. Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide an improved'apparatus for liquefying gases having anl arrangement for increasing the rate of liquefaction ofgas.

Another object of my invention is -to provide a gas liquefying apparatus having an arrangement for removing energy from the gas by utilizing the transformation of a portion ofthe energy of the gas into sound energy.

A further object4 of my invention is to provide a gas liquefying apparatus of the regenerative type having an auxiliary 'arrangement utilizing the formation andabso'rption of sound energy to increase the rateof liquefactionof gas in the apparatus.

Further objects and advantages4 of my invenapparatus gas is compressed by the compressor I4 to a high pressure, say 3,000 pounds per square inch, and is discharged through the conduit I8. The compressed gas is initially lcooled in the cooler I5, provided with a. conduit I9 for 'circulating cooling water or other fluid therethrough. Moisture and other impurities in the gas are then removed by the purier I1. .The dehydration and purification of the gas is accompanied by a rise in temperature and the second cooler i6 is provided to reduce the temperature of thepurified gas. The cooler I6 utilizes ice or some other low temperature cooling substance. The cooled high pressure gas then enters the casing II) through a connection 20 and a. conduit 2l. The

conduit 2l is connected through a fitting 22 with the coiled conduits I2, comprising three -tubes secured together and arranged in a passage within the casing I0. The conduits I2 comprise a large number of turns arranged closely together within the passage 24. For purposes of illustration a few turns only have been indicated. The gas then passes from the conduits I2into the block I3 through a tting 26.( Within the block I3 is a throttle-valve 21 shown in Fig. 2. 'Ihe compressed gas passes through the valve 211 and into an opening 28 in the block I3 and thence into the chamber II. On passing through the valve 21 the pressure 'of the gasy is reduced substantially to atmospheric pressure and the lthe gas has been slightly cooled by passage through the valve 21 this cooling effect is available for lowering the temperature. of the high pressure gas within the conduits I2. The high pressure gas, therefore, is lowered in temperatureand on passing through the throttle valve 21 is lowered still more. There is, therefore, a continual decrease in the temperature of the high pressure gas which provides the regenerative effect utilized for liquefying the gas. The low pressure gas is removed from the passage -24 through a connection 32 and ows through:

a conduit 33 to an intake chamber 34 and thence returns to the compressor through an intake connection 35. Additional gas may be drawn into the apparatus through an inlet 36 communicating with the inlet chamber 34. apparatus continues to operate the temperature of the gas discharged into the chamber II will continue to be lowered until it is'sufliciently low that a portion of the discharged gas is liquefied; the liquid collecting at the bottom of the chamber II and being withdrawn through a tube 31 provided with a `valve 38.

The rate at which the gas passes through the valve 21 may be controlled by an adjusting knob 39 connected to the valve through a rod 40. The rod 40 extends upwardly from the valve! 21 to the outside ofthe casing I0 through a tube 4I and is provided with threads 42 whereby the position of the Valve 21 withrespect to its seat, indicated at 43, may be adjusted.

In order to increase the rate at which the temperature of the gas is reduced and, therefore, the rate at which the gas is liquefied by the apparatus, I provide an auxiliary arrangement for converting a portion of the energy of the gas into sound energy Within the liquefying chamber II and for transmitting or conducting the sound energy to a point remote from the chamber and there dissipating the energy by converting it into heat. The removal of a portion of the energy of the gas in the chamber II by conversion into sound energy reduces the temperature of the gas discharged into the chamber. The reduced temperature is maintained by removing the sound energy and dissi- Dating it at a poini'l remote from the cold chamber so that the'reconversion of the sound energy into heat occursin a place where the heat is not available to reheat the gas in the chamber. It is readily apparent that this process increases the rate of cooling ofthe gas. In order to accomplish the foregoing I provide a Whistle comprising a bell 44 arranged in the jet of gas owing from the throttle valve 21 through a. Whistle throat 43a. directly below the valve seat 43, and I provide a sound transmitting or. conducting passage comprising a plurality of concentric ducts 45 extending upwardly from the chamber II and surrounding the passage 24. In the upper portion of the casing I0 and in communication with the upper ends of the ducts 45, Il vprovidea body of sound absorbing material 46. The sound produced by the whistle 44 is conducted upwardly through the ducts 45 'Ihis slightly cooled gas is discharged As the Ato the sound absorbing material 46 where it is converted into heat energy. The metal walls IIa of the chamber II reflect the sound waves and very little of the energy is absorbed by the" walls and reconverted into heat within the. chamber. Any of the sound which may pass upwardly through the spaces between the turns of the conduit I2 will be dissipated in the sound absorbingV material 3l `previously referred to.

vThe spaces in the passage 24 between the turns of the conduit I2 are small and provide an irregular path for sound; very little of the sound energy will, therefore, leave the chamber II through the passage 24.

The whistle bell 44 comprises afcup formed by a tube 41 threaded in the block I3 and having a rod 48 slidably mounted therein. The pitch of the sound produced by the whistle' may be varied by adjusting the position of the rod 48 within .the tube 41. The upper end of the tube 41 is beveled, as indicated at 49, to provide a sharp edge for the whistle. The efficiency of the whistle in converting into sound energy the energy of the gas issuing through the', throat varies with the change in the length of the bell opening or distance between the whistle bell and the throat. In the drawing the bell opening isindicated at 25. Since the operating conditions of the apparatus may vary it is desirable to provide an arrangement for changing or adjusting the bell opening. Accordingly, I have provided a knob 5|] secured to the -lower end of the rod 41 outside of the casing I0;- the adjustment being effected by turning the knob 50. In order'to adjust the pitch of the whistle I have provided a knob 5I secured to the lower end of the rod 48 and mounted in a threaded sleeve 52 formed on the knob 5D. By turning the knob the relative positions of the rod 48 and the tube 41 are varied. 'Normally the pitch of the whistle need be adjusted only during the assembly of theapparatus. The WhistleI should be adjusted with respect to the sound Iabsorbing Icharacteristic of the Walls of thei chamber II, it being desirable that the pitch of the sound be such that there is little absorption of the sound energy by the walls of the chamber II and,4 therefore, little reconversion of the energy into heat within the cold chamber. The Whistle adjusting assembly is mounted in a tube 53 seccured to the bottom portion 54 of the wall IIa in a bushing 55. In order to remove the heat produced by the absorption of the sound energy by the sound absorbing material 46 I provide a cooling coil 56 arranged within the sound absorbing material 46, so that water or other cooling fluid may be utilized to cool the sound absorbing material.

During the operation of the gas liquefying apparatus described above air or other gas is admitted to the compressor from the inlet cham-4 ber 34. The air is then compressed by the compressor I4 and passes through the cooler I5,

the purifier I1 and the cooler I6. The cooled through the turns of the coiled conduits I2 to the throttle valve 21. The air passing through the valve 21 is cooled by the Joule-Thomson effect and also by the conversion of a portion of the energy of the gas into sound energy at the whistle bell 44. The cooled gas then passes out of the chamber II through the passage 24 Where it serves to lower the temperature of the high pressure gas in the coiled. conduits I2 and is .thereafter returned to the compressor through connection 32 and conduit 33. The sound produced by the whistle 44 is conducted through concentric ducts 45 to the sound absorbing material 46 where it is converted into heat energy. The heat is removed from the sound absorbing materialby coolingwater flowing through the coil 56. Asthe cycle of operation continues the high pressure air flowing through the conduits *I2 reaches a lower and lower temperature` un- 'the capacity of gas liquefying apparatus of the` regenerative type. The additional parts required to provide the increased capacity are of simple and rugged construction, and include no. moving parts subject to wear.

While I have shown and described my invention in connection with agas liquefying apparatus of a specic type it will be understood that it is applicable to other types of apparatus. I do not desire my` invention to be limited to the specific Vconstruction shown anddescribed and I intend in the appended claims to cover all modifications thereof which do not depart from the spirit and scope`of my invention.

What I claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A gas liquefying apparatus including a. high pressure gas conduit, a gas liquefying chamber having thermally insulated walls, means for discharging into said chamber gas from said conduit, means for converting into sound energy a portion of the energy of said gas discharged into said chamber tb reduce the temperature of said gas, means for discharging gas from said chamber, means for conducting away from, said chamber sound energy producedtherein to reduce the total energy of said gas within said chamber, and means remote from said chamber for dissipating said sound energy, J i

2. A gas liquefying apparatus of the regenerative type including a gas compressor and a high pressure gas conduit, means for discharging compressed gasifrom said compressor into said conduit, a gas liquefying chamber having thermally insulated walls, means including a throttle valve for discharging into said chamber gas from -said conduit, means for converting into sound energy a portion of the energy of said gas discharged into said chamber to reduce the temperature of said' gas, means for' discharging gas from said chamber and for conveying said dis-Y charged gas from said chamber: in heat exchange relation with said conduitto yreduce the heat energy of the gas in said conduit, means for returning said discharged gasto said compressor. means. for conducting away from said chamber sound energy -produced therein to reduce the total energy of said gas within said chamber, and means remote from said chamber for dissipating said sound energy.

3. A gas liquefying apparatus including a thermallyinsulated casing having a gas liquefying chamber therein, means including an extended conduit for conveying high pressure gasto said chamber, means for discharging Iinto said chamber gas from said conduit, means for converting into sound energy a portion of the energy of said gas discharged into said chamber to reduce the temperature of said gas, means for discharging gas from said chamber, means for conducting away fromsaid chamber sound energy produced therein to reduce the total energy of said gas within said chamber,.and means remote from said chamber for dissipating said sound energy.

4. A gas liquefying apparatus including a thermally insulated casing having a gas liquefying chamber therein, means including an extended conduit for conveying, high pressure gas to said chamber, means including a valve for discharging into said chamber gas from said conduit, means for converting into sound energywa portion of the energy of said gas discharged intosaid chamber to reduce the temperature of said gas, means for discharging gas from said chamber, means including a duct within said casing for conducting away from said chamber sound.

energy produced therein to reduce the total en- -ergy'of said gas within said chamber, and means including a body of sound absorbing material arranged within said casing remote from .said chamber for dissipating said sound energy.

5. A gas liquefying apparatus including a thermally insulated casing having a gas liquefying chamber arranged therein, means including a conduit having a plurality of coils arranged Within said casing for conveying high pressure gas to said chamber, means including a throttle valve for discharging to said chamber gas from I 'said conduit, means for converting into sound energy a portion of the energy of said gas discharged into said chamber to vreduce the temperature of said gas, means for discharging gas from said chamber and for conveying said discharged gas through said casing in heat exchange relation with said conduit, means arranged within said casing and surrounding said coils for conducting away from said chamber sound energy produced therein -to reduce the `total energy of said gas within said chamber,

and means remote from said chamber for dissii pating said sound energy.

6.' A gas liquefying apparatus including a theraway from said chamber sound energy produced therein to reduce the total energy of said gas within said chamber, and means remote from said chamber for dissipating said-.sound energy.

'L1A gas liquefying apparatus including a thermally insulated casing having a gas liquefying chamber therein, means including lan extended Aconduit for conveying high pressure gas to said chamber, means including a valve for discharging into said chamber.' gas from said conduit,

` means including a whistle for converting into,

sound energy a port-ion of the energy of said gas discharged into said chamber to reduce the temperature of saidgas, means including a. metal block for supporting said valve and said whistle Vwithin said chamber, said block having an open- Vgas' from said chamber, means for conducting ing in the center thereof for the discharge of gas from said valve into said chamber,'means for discharging gas from said chamber', means for conducting away from said chamber sound energy produced therein to reduce the total energy of said gas within said chamber, and means remote from said chamber for dissipating said sound energy. A

8. A gas liquefying apparatus including a thermally insulated casing having a gas liquefying chamber therein, means including an extended conduit for conveying high pressure gas to said chamber, means including a valve for discharging into said chamber gas from said conduit, means including a whistle for converting into sound energya portion of the energy of said gas' discharged into said chamber to reduce the temperature of said gas, means for adjusting the bell opening of said whistle to vary the efiiciency of said whistle, means for discharging gas from said chamber, means forconducting away from said chamber sound energy produced therein to reduce the total energy of said gas within said chamber, and means remote from said chamber for dissipating said sound energy.

9. A gas liquefying apparatus including a therl mally insulated casing having a gas liquefying chamber therein, means including an extended conduit for conveying high pressure gas to said chambexgmeans including a valve for discharging into said chambergas from said conduit, means including a whistle for converting into sound energy a portion of the energy of said gas discharged into said chamber to reduce the tem- 'perature -of said gas, means for adjusting the bell opening of said whistle to vary the eiliciency of said whistle, means for varying the pitch of the sound produced by said whistle, means for discharging gas from said chamber, means for conducting away from said chamber sound en ergy produced therein to reduce the total energy of said gas within said chamber, and means remote .from said chamber for dissipating said sound energy.

10. A gas liquefying apparatus including a thermally insulated casing having a gas lique- 'i fying chamber therein, means including an extended conduit for conveying high pressure gas to said chamber, .means including a valve for discharging into said chamber gas from said conduit, means including a whistle for converting into sound energy a portion of the energy yof said gas discharged into said chamber to regas to said chamber, means'including a throttle valve for discharging into said1 chamber gas from said conduit, means including a whistle for converting into sound energy a portion Aof the energy of said gas discharged into said chamber to reduce the temperature of said gas, means extending through said casing for adjusting the bell.

opening of said whistle to vary the efficiency of said whistle, means for discharging gas from said chamber and for conveying said discharged gas through said casing in heat exchange relation gas Within said chamber, and means remote from4 said chamber for dissipating said sound energy.

12. A gas liquefying apparatus including a thermally insulated casing having a gas liquefying chamber therein, means including an extended conduit for conveying high pressure gas to said chamber, means including a valve for discharging into said chamber gas from said conduit, means for converting into sound energy a portion of the energy of said gas discharged into said chamber to reduce the temperature of said gas, A,means for discharging gas. from said chamber, means including a duct within said casing for conducting away from said chamber sound energy produced therein to reduce the total energy of said gas within said chamber, means including a body of sound absorbing material arranged within said casing remote from said chamber for dissipating said sound energy,

and means for cooling said sound absorbing material to remove the heat produced by the dis-I sipation of said sound' energy.

13. A gasliquefying apparatus of the regeneraytive type includinga gas compressor and a high pressure gas conduit, means for discharging compressed gas from said compressor into said conduit,4 a gasliquefying chamber having thermally insulated walls, means including a throttle valve for discharging into said chamber gas from vsaid conduit, means including a whistle for converting into sound energy a portion of the energy 0f said gas discharged into said chamber to reduce the temperature of 'said gas, means extending through said casing for adjusting the bell' opening of said whistle tovary the eiciency of said whistle, means for discharging gas from said chamber and for conveying said discharged gas from said chamber in heat exchange relation with said conduit to reduce the heat energy of the gasjn said conduit, means for returning said discharged gas to said compressor, means for conducting away from said chamber sound energy produced therein to reduce the total en-v for cooling said gas, auxiliary means for supple menting said last-mentioned means to further -cool the gas discharged into said chamber, said auxiliary means comprising means for converting a portion of the energy of said compressed gas into sound energy to lowerthe temperature .of said gas, and means for dissipating said sound energy 'at a place remote from said gas liquefying chamber. v

CHESTER W. RICE. 

